15 Insanely Popular Animated Characters, and the Voice Actors Who Played Them

1. Mickey Mouse (Original) – Walt Disney

Founder of the still growing Disney company, Walt Disney was the original voice of Mickey Mouse from 1928 to 1946. After 18 years, Walt found himself too busy to continue as the voice as he was also running the studio.

2. Spongebob Squarepants – Tom Kenny

Tom Kenny mainly plays the character of Spongebob on the popular Nickelodeon show Spongebob Squarepants and has been voicing the character since 1999 but also voices characters such as Gary the Snail and also the Narrator on the show.

3. Dora The Explorer – Kathleen Herles

Kathleen Herles was the voice of Dora from 2000-2007 in the show Dora the Explorer and also voiced Dora in the show Go, Diego! Go, from 2005-2009.

4. Nemo (Finding Nemo) – Alexander Gould

In the popular Disney Pixar’s movie Nemo, actor Alexander Gould voiced the clownfish Nemo. Gould’s other big role is the character Shane Botwin on the popular adult dramedy on Showtime, Weeds.

5. Young Simba (The Lion King) – Jonathan Taylor Thomas

Known from a big role on the TV show Home Improvement, playing the character of Randy and also the movie Tom and Huck, playing the famous literary character Tom Sawyer, Jonathan Taylor Thomas voiced Young Simba in Disney’s epic animated musical The Lion King.

6. Woody (Toy Story) – Tom Hanks

Academy Award winner Tom Hanks voiced one of the most loved Disney characters, Woody. Before that role, Hanks played in movies like Forrest Gump, Sleepless in Seattle and a popular 1980s sitcom called Bosom Buddies where he got his big break.

7. Charlie Brown – Peter Robbins

Peter Robbins is the original voice behind the beloved Peanuts’ character Charlie Brown. He voiced Charlie from 1963 until 1969. Robbins starred in other popular TV shows such as Rawhide and The Munsters.

8. Lightning McQueen (Cars) – Owen Wilson

Known for popular comedies such as Shanghai Noon, Meet the Parents and Zoolander, Owen Wilson voiced the famous race car and main character Lightning McQueen in Disney Pixar’s Cars.

9. Fred Flinstone – Alan Reed

Alan Reed voiced the original Fred Flinstone from the show’s second episode (Daws Butler voiced Fred in the original pilot), until Reed’s death in 1977. Reed was also in popular films such as Breakfast at Tiffany’s and Disney’s Lady and the Tramp.

10. Gru (Despicable Me) – Steve Carell

Popular for his role as Michael Scott on NBC’s The Office, Steve Carell voiced the popular villain turned good guy Gru in the 2010 movie Despicable Me.

11. Scooby Doo – Don Messick

Scooby-Doo has been voice by many actors throughout the year but the very first person to voice the popular canine was Don Messick. Messick has also voiced other popular animated characters such as Papa Smurf and Boo Boo in the animated show The Yogi Bear Show.

12. Hank Hill – Mike Judge

Mike Judge is the voice behind TV’s popular redneck, Hank Hill. Judge also wrote and produced King of The Hill and Beavis and Butt-Head as well.

13. Donald Duck – Clarence Nash

Clarence Hill voiced one of Disney’s most popular characters Donald Duck. Clarence voiced Donald Duck for 50 years with his last role as Donald in Mickey’s Christmas Carol, making Donald the only character in the film to be voiced by his original actor.

14. Donkey (Shrek) – Eddie Murphy

Eddie Murphy known also for his roles in The Nutty Professor and as Mushu in Disney’s Mulan, voiced the waffle-making, dragon-loving, singing Donkey in Dreamworks’ Shrek.

15. Homer Simpson – Dan Castellaneta

Frequent customer of Moe’s Tavern and donut loving, Homer Simpson is voiced by Dan Castellaneta who also voices other small roles on The Simpsons and voiced characters on other shows such as Futurama, Hey Arnold! and Rugrats.

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